General Dahlia Chat 2024

Krista · 2024-01-05T01:50:48+00:00

When do we grow up and stop ordering more tubers than we can possibly fit into the space we have, for the next season? Is that something I can look forward t...

Bessie

MissyWeitzel I loved using them for starting seeds that weren't too big, like tomatoes and peppers. Squash are too big and grow too fast to use them. I decided against using them for Dahlia seed starting because of the netting. I like to remove the netting as I plant the seedling. They are sterile, which is an advantage for seeds which may be hard to start.

Justafewdahlias

My Crichon honey tuber’s first & second blooms (super late I know) have a totally blown center. It also has an insanely wiggly head and the petals don’t look lined up, it looks sloppy if that makes sense. Is it just looking so bad because it’s nearing the end of the season? Or did this plant have such a tough start/stressed life that it is now suffering and genetically broken down?

This very well could have been all my fault. I took a couple cutting from it before planting it. It came with a big sprout on it and I couldn’t resist 😅. Then at the start of the season I thought I might have root aphids so I choose one tuber to dig up to examine the roots/look for evidence of pests under the soil (this tuber)….I then replanted it after digging it up thinking “it’s worth a short to see if it will grow” Then earwigs chewed on this plant so much it struggled to grow. It wasn’t until I made some good earwig traps and rigged a row cover over it that it actually could put on new growth to grow vs being pinched back on its new growth by pests every night. I am now seeing maybe it’s all connected, digging it up stressed it out which made it prime pest target probably. It also wasn’t in a very good location, too shady. A tragic life for this tuber. I promise my other tubers grew without so many issues and without such a tragic chain of events!!😅

My question is do I toss this tuber or give it another chance next year? Can severe plant traumas like I described mess the genetics up this bad?

Bessie

Justafewdahlias I am horrible with the environment I give many of my tubers. If it was my plant, I would take a few nice cuttings from the tuber in the spring and see what the resultant flowers are on the plants. I would probably not expect the tuber to be worth growing out, from my past limited experiences in torturing dahlias.

SteveM

Justafewdahlias My question is do I toss this tuber or give it another chance next year? Can severe plant traumas like I described mess the genetics up this bad?

I trialed Crichton Honey (for use as a cut dahlia) about 35 years ago. It was not a vigorous plant and grew very short. I was surprised when I noticed it was still for sale. There are other orange varieties that make much better cut dahlias. And no, severe plant trauma won't mess up the genetics.

Teddahlia

"...genetically broken down?" In my opinion, it has never been good.

Justafewdahlias

Teddahlia

Not very good is one thing, but I mean it has to have been somewhat better than this at one time right?? 😂 online photos vs what I wound up with are a big difference. Bummer since it is a lovely color

Justafewdahlias

Bessie 😂😂 lol I’m very new to accidentally torturing dahlias as well haha but I agree.

Justafewdahlias

SteveM I actually ONLY bought it for the reason of it being advertised as short/compact. I also bought Mary Jo, china doll & a few others for this reason. When I was planning my garden over a year ago I did not want to stake my dahlias in my front yard garden and landscape. After growing many plants that do need support I realize it’s not that big of a deal/that big of an eye sore to stake them. Cutting flowers wasn’t even something I was thinking about at the time. Change of plans, none of the dahlias got worked into the landscape and everything is getting cut.

MissyWeitzel

Hmm Crichton Honey was pretty lackluster for me last season but this year did way better. I really like the warm peachy tone to it and I also noticed it holds color well when dried.

Last year I would have said Ruskin Tangerine was my favorite orange but this year that one did poorly. Camano Buz is another orange I've grown a few years and I think it's OK. Ferncliff Apricot is nice and I grew a lot of plants of it this year. I really need more orange varieties. I have way too many pink and purple!

What orange varieties do you all love? Cut, show, garden, all of it!

Here's the only photo I can easily find of Ferncliff Apricot. I took this more to show off my new vase to my mom and just grabbed a few blooms to throw in. 😊

MIDahlias

MissyWeitzel
I've been waiting/hoping to find the perfect orange ball, formal dec, informal dec, laciniated... well almost anything.

The shade im looking for is that of Mexican Sunflowers or OJ Hawkins collarette.

I tried sorting in the Online classification guide and Tahoma Tiger is classified as a deep orange, but mine grew light. Connells verified my bloom was true. So far Hot Shot is the closest. I would love one of the forms mentioned above.

Keep me in mind of you find something I might love.

SteveM

MissyWeitzel What orange varieties do you all love?

My favorite small cut orange is Maarn (Sylvia). It is a heavy producer with strong stems through several flushes and 5 months of production. My favorite medium size orange cut is Bracken Palomino. It sells all summer and not just in the Fall like many oranges. I didn't grow any orange dahlias this year because, in addition to yellow and pure red, yellow is not a great seller at the market for much of the season.

Justafewdahlias

MissyWeitzel I have really liked “my forever” dahlia. The description says it is peachy but turns more orange towards the end of the season. Here in the pnw everything seemed behind this season so I’ve only seen the more orange version of it. I’m surprised by how much I like this orange color. Maybe I’m just not used to seeing orange in my garden so I’m more easily impressed by it

Teddahlia

We have some small orange flowers that would make good cut flowers in the second year seedlings. I may take a picture .

Juliarugula

MIDahlias Tahoma Tiger is sort of a lighter dusty orange for me.

Baron Chad is a very bright orange formal dec. It’s listed as bronze on DahliaAddict. But I definitely think of it as orange.

Also, I forgot about WB’s Molten Lava, which is about right for the color of a Mexican sunflower. This photo looks a little redder than it is - it’s really an intense intense orange.

MIDahlias

Juliarugula I fell in love with Baron Chad last year. I saw it at two different shows without knowing what it was until looking at the tag. I did grow it this year, but it didn't bloom for me.

I will definitely try growing WB's Molten Lava. Please let me know if you want to sell or trade a tuber.

magucci

Juliarugula Okay, question. I have this (I think) but the tag got separated. Would you let me know the size of your blooms? Mine are HUGE, which is why I am doubting its identity. I'll post a pic when I get back to my phone.

Juliarugula

MIDahlias did grow it this year, but it didn't bloom for me.

Try again next year. It’s a good bloomer for me. It’s definitely one that prefers full sun though, so keep that in mind

I will definitely try growing WB's Molten Lava. Please let me know if you want to sell or trade a tuber.

I didn’t grow WB’s Molten Lava this year, unfortunately, or else I'd be happy to trade.

BackyardBouquets_17

I too had ugly looking Crichton honey this yr. I had good stock of it at one time an loved the color but now I’m sticking with Clearview Peachy and Suncrest instead because everytime I’ve tried to buy back in Crichton honey it’s always been open centered.

Juliarugula

Does anybody else’s brain quietly whisper “Serenity now!” To them any time they pass by their Hollyhill Serenity plant? Too much Seinfeld in my youth…

KitCMC

Juliarugula insanity later 🤣

Emilyp

Juliarugula Well, you bet I will now 😆 I Love Seinfeld.

Juliarugula

magucci

It’s difficult for me to say right now. I haven’t been measuring it. It’s still blooming, but the blooms are all small right now since it’s kind of bloomed out for the season. I wouldn’t say it’s huge exactly, but it’s always been one of my larger waterlily blooms.

« Previous Page Next Page »